Pistachio Baklava Rolls (Printable Version)

Golden phyllo rolls filled with spiced pistachios, brushed with butter and drizzled with orange blossom syrup.

# What You'll Need:

→ Filling

01 - 1 1/2 cups shelled unsalted pistachios
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Pastry

05 - 16 sheets phyllo dough (about 12 x 16 inches), thawed
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

→ Orange blossom syrup

07 - 1 cup granulated sugar
08 - 1/2 cup water
09 - 2 teaspoons orange blossom water
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

→ Garnish

11 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped pistachios

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - Pulse the pistachios, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon and sea salt in a food processor until the mixture is finely chopped but not pasty; transfer to a bowl.
03 - Keep the phyllo sheets covered with a slightly damp towel while working to prevent drying.
04 - Place one phyllo sheet on a clean surface and lightly brush with melted butter; place a second sheet on top and brush again.
05 - Along the long edge of the layered phyllo, evenly sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of the pistachio mixture in a line.
06 - Roll the phyllo tightly into a log, then cut the log into two equal pieces; place each piece seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
07 - Repeat the layering, filling and rolling process with the remaining phyllo and pistachio mixture to yield 16 rolls in total.
08 - Brush the tops of all rolls with the remaining melted butter so they brown evenly in the oven.
09 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, rotating the sheet once if necessary, until the rolls are crisp and deep golden brown.
10 - While the rolls bake, combine the sugar, water and lemon juice in a small saucepan; bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the orange blossom water.
11 - Remove the rolls from the oven and immediately spoon the warm syrup evenly over them so the pastry absorbs the syrup.
12 - Allow the rolls to cool to room temperature, then sprinkle with the chopped pistachios before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The moment you pour the warm syrup over the hot rolls, your whole kitchen is filled with the delicate perfume of orange blossom—utter magic.
  • You get the crunch and richness of traditional baklava, but with charming little rolls that are so much easier to share or sneak for yourself!
02 -
  • Once, I let the phyllo sit uncovered and it turned brittle almost instantly—a damp towel is your best friend.
  • Syrup that's too hot will make the rolls soggy; letting it cool a bit before pouring is the secret for perfect texture.
03 -
  • Let each roll cool completely before storing or stacking, or you’ll lose their delicate crispiness.
  • Adding orange blossom water at the very end keeps the syrup’s fragrance bright, instead of cooking it away.
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